Mack Delivers NG-Powered Refuse Trucks to Grand Junction, Colorado
Jul 26, 2011 2:17 PM
The City of Grand Junction, Colorado, recently accepted delivery of four natural gas-powered MACK TerraPro Low Entry refuse trucks – the first natural gas refuse trucks to operate in Western Colorado.
“Grand Junction is committed to clean air technology and we’ve long relied on Mack trucks to handle our refuse collection,” Grand Junction assistant financial operations manager Jay Valentine said. “The natural gas-powered TerraPro delivers the performance we’ve come to expect from Mack and allows us to utilize Western Colorado’s abundant supply of natural gas.”
Grand Junction operates an all-Mack fleet of 12 refuse trucks, including the new gas-powered TerraPro models – three automated side-loading units for residential refuse collection and a front loading unit for commercial collection.
“Mack’s natural gas-powered TerraPro combines an industry-leading truck with alternative fuel technology to give fleets the durability they need while at the same time reducing CO2 emissions,” said John Thomas, Mack regional vice president. “It’s an ideal solution for refuse applications, where the vehicles return to a central location every day for refueling. We’re beginning to see a migration toward natural gas and some of our refuse customers envision all-gas fleets in the not too distant future.”
While Grand Junction initially plans to tap Western Colorado’s natural gas resources, they’re also investigating the possibility of a sustainable energy source – converting methane gas from the city’s Persigo Wastewater Treatment to compressed natural gas. A biogas operation of this type would be the first of its kind in the U.S.
In addition to the Low Entry, Mack offers the TerraPro Cabover model, also used in refuse and recycling applications. The gas versions of these trucks have been specifically engineered and built to operate on this alternative fuel, and are built on the production line at the Mack Macungie Assembly Operations – an important advantage over aftermarket conversions.
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